Yes. It does NOT cause skin disorders or discoloration.
There are many places on the internet and in popular writings that still promulgate this food myth, but fish with milk has NO scientifically or medically established connection to Leucoderma or Vitiligo (or any other skin disorder). This notion has been explored and the question was scientifically laid to rest years ago. No one is currently exploring this issue in medicine or science, because the question has already been answered!
Consider that there are thousands of tasty recipes in which fish is cooked with or in milk, have toppings that include milk in some form, and that many people world-wide have consumed milk with or immediately after fish for as long as several thousand years and in virtually all parts of the world.
Even in South Asia, where the myth seems to be the strongest today, there are hundreds of milk-based recipes for fish and seafood that people don’t seem to give a thought to while they are eating the dish, but when asked, they will tell you that you’ll get white spots on your skin if you consume milk after eating fish.
Many traditional fish preparations are made using curd, which is a milk product. Continental cuisine also has a variety or recipes that incorporate cream or cream based sauces with fish. However, if the fish preparation is too fiery, drinking milk after it may lead to issues like indigestion or acid reflux. Adverse side effects or white patchy skin has not been reported after eating milk or cream based fish preparations. So it is safe to say that drinking milk, curd, buttermilk or eating milk-based dessert will definitely not cause any white patches on your skin.
I do not know why this myth is still hanging on, but it does.
Kluchit Staff
Maryam Khurram
